Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-19
SIMPLICITY IN FUNERALS.
The Vulgar Display OF studied Extra
vagance sign of Ignorance.

delphia Times, the expensive display IN
the burial of the dead is increasing
rather than diminishing. IL this eX-
travagant and utterly Incorporating
expenditure in funerals was confined
to people of abundant means, who can
afford any outlay on funeral occasions
il would be a matter OF little or no con-
Germ to the public; but so far as there
has been any growth of simplicity In
funerals it has been chiefly among the
more intelligent and opulent people,
while those who can least afford extra
VACANT funerals are compelled by what
they regard as an mperious custom to
exhibit their appreciation Of their dead
by the wanton outlay of money in their
burial.
A great funeral parade on the burial
of the private citizen is not only I'M
reasonable but it fairly crosses the line |
of vulgar display. Grief for the dead
is the most sacred of the world many
sorrows. and it is the last thing that
should be paraded before the unsympa-
thetic multitude. Indeed, the burial OF
the dead should be rs far removed as
possible from the outside world. The
dead should be sacred TO the gaze and
loving office of those who mourn for
them; and there should be absolute eX-
clusion of the curious idlers whose pre-
sence so sadly jars the sanctity OF grief.
So ostentatious has become the display
of the mercst regulation respect for the
/ dead that many of the death notices IN
the public journals have added to them
the wise admonit ion-'Please omit
| flowers" and many others have the
still better admonition-"ln terment
private" The admOntions. forced by
love of lavish display, teach the lesson
that all should learn, and the lesson
that would save thousands OF poor
families from starvation or severest
sacrifice for months after funeral
merely to crafty the vulgar taste for
vain pomp and idle ceremony in the
burial of the dead.
This tendency to parade and display
on funeral occasions is oppressive upon
the largest portion of citizens in every
community, for the majority of the
people in every city or neighborhood
are in moderate or straitened circum-
stances. They feel compelled to inn
itate those of fortune in ostentatious
respect for the dead, and, between
costly caskets, flowers, carriages and
decking whole families in the barbar-
Gus habilment: of woe. they often In
volye themselves in debts which they
can not pay or must practice the sever
est self-denial for months thereafter TO
,, defray the cost of what is simply q
mockery of honest grief. 1t Is
not only needless oppres-
: sion of persons of humble means,
but it is burlesque Of the SIM
! cere sorrow that is felt for the dead.
0 The assumption that love for the dead
I is exhibited in a profusion OF costly
I flowers, or in costly casket, or in ;
i long line of costly carriages, for idle
lookers-on, is simply farccal. 1t strips
/, the love for the dead Of its hottest OF
fees and transtorms 2 funeral into the
= empty pomp of avulgar parade, whil'
:, it impoverishes many to the verge 0
" want. And why Is il done? Simpl.
because many of those who can afiorc
it make parade of funerals, as if pa
~ rade and extravaganza were tributes
y respect for the dead; and the poor, Oft
/, en- more sincere in their grief, ar
!, taught that the measure OF respect 10
their loved ones who are called ava
:, is the measure of pomp and eXtraVa
:" cance exhibited in their burial
The world is growing in diligence
~ and as ii advances in enl ghtene
nc civilization the simplicity OF funera
nc will surely follow. just as intellgenC
CT increases. the love that hollow pom
X and ceremony is diminished, and IL
de severest simplicity IN the burial of II
in lad will be certain outgrowth OF
higher standard of culture among Il
people. The vulgar display of Studio
no extravaganza is relic Of ignorance,
the OSlchbdAlOus P"i NV VI WV - "
*, healthy and unsightly Grape is rel
ley of barbarism, adopted and softened
DIS, the caprice of fashion; and both inst
nd the sincere grief of the honest hear
sh, The burial of the dead is solely the
gs. fair of the sorrow-sm item househol
oof and bereavement can have no taste
re- tolerance for the pageant that invi'
md the idle multitude and that exacts c
pressive tribute from the poor. 1t
simply want of broad intelligence IL
lily makes the Stewards and the Wand
an. bins erect great burglar-proof van
hi to protect the remains OF their de
If a from the grasp Of the theft who wo'
will steal them for ransom. Had th
/. at erected crematory and incinera
Tor. the bodies. as did the most enlighter
~. NJ the earlier civilizations, they Co